Device for continuous and semi-continuous casting of metal having an inductor

ABSTRACT

A plant for producing ingots from molten metal poured on a tray and formed by the influence of an electromagnetic field of an inductor said inductor being located in a space of a collector and the ingot being immersed in a cooling agent as it is discharged from holes in the collector onto the side surface of the ingot.

I Umted States Patent 1 [111 3,7 73,101

Getselev Nov. 20, 1973 DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUS AND 3,467,166 9/1969Getselev et al. 164/250 )1 SEMLCONTINUQUS CASTING 0F MET AL 3,605,8659/1971 Getselev 164/250 HAVING AN INDUCTOR 2,763,040 9/1956 Korb 164/49[76] Inventor: Zinovy Naumovich Getselev, FOREIGN PATENTS 0RAPPLICATIONS prospekt 11 29, 1,803,473 5 1970 Germany 164/51 Kuibyshev,U.S.S.R. Primary Examiner-R. Spencer Annear [22] Filed. Nov. 10, 1971Att0mey Holman & Stem [21] Appl. N0.: 197,268

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 164/251, 164/283 M A plant for producingingots from molten metal [51} Int. Cl B2261 27/02 poured on a tray andformed by the influence of an [58] Field of Search 164/51, 82, 251,ectromagnetic fi'cld of an inductor said inductor 164/281, 49 beinglocated in a space of a collector and the ingot being immersed in acooling agent as it is discharged [56] References Cited from holes inthe collector onto the side surface of the UNITED STATES PATENTS 83,268,963 8/1966 Mann 164/51 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures GEL DEVICE FORCONTINUOUS AND SEMI-CONTINUOUS CASTING OF METAL HAVING AN INDUCTOR Theinvention relates to devices for producing ingots from molten metalincontinuous (or) plants for casting A metal, for example aluminium.

Known in the prior art are ingot-producing plants comprising an inductorwhich creates an electromagnetic field to form molten metal into aningot. The molten metal is delivered on a tray and the side surface ofthe ingot being formed is cooled by cooling agent e.g., water fed fromcollector having a reservoir therein. The collector embraces the ingotlaterally, serves as the body-of the plant, has a space for a coolingagent and holes for the discharge of the cooling agent through the wallfacing the ingot.

A shield secured on the collector at the side of the ingot serves fordirecting the cooling agent (water) onto the side surface of the ingotand for correcting the electromagnetic field.

In prior art ingot-producing plants the inductor is mounted under thecollector and is fastened and aligned by dielectric parts. Experiencegained in the practical use of ingot-producing plants proves that theinductor must be reliably insulated so as to ward off any accidents thatmight occur through inadvertent contact. Besides a separate water inletis provided for cooling the inductor. All these factors make servicingof the plant difficult and dangerous.

The main object of the invention is to provide an ingot-producing plantwhich would be safe in service to eliminate the possibility of contactwith the inductor by accident.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of theplant.

Still another object is to make the plant more compact.

And a further object is to cancel the additional equipment for coolingthe inductor.

This object has been achieved by providing a plant for producing ingotsfrom molten metal fed onto a tray and formed into an ingot by theelectromagnetic field of an inductor secured to the collector, thelatter serving as the body of the plant, embracing the ingot laterally,having a reservoir for the cooling agent, holes for the discharge of thecooling agent said holes being located in the collector wall facing theingot, and a shield for preventing contact with the electromagneticfield of the inductor were, according to the invention, said inductorbeing located in the space or reservoir of the collector and immersed inthe cooling agent.

Such a plant is safer in servicing, more reliable, compact and simplerto manufacture.

It is desirable that the inductor should be located near the collectorwall facing the ingot. This will ensure a sufficiently high efficiencyof the plant.

It is practicable that the inductor should be located near the verticalpartition which can be placed along the reservoir space in order tosuppress the turbulent streams of the cooling agent.

Now the invention will be described in detail by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the ingot-producing plant with the inductor being locatedat the inner wall of the collector, sectionalized vertically;

FIG. 2 shows the ingot-producing plant with the inductor being locatedat the inner partition of the collector, sectionalized vertically.

The ingot-producing plant used in the process of continuous orsemicontinuous casting of metal comprises a collector 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2)which serves as a body of the plant and has a space 2 forming areservoir for the cooling agent. The collector l embraces laterally theingot 3 which is held by the tray 4 moved in a vertical direction.

The ingot-facing side of the collector l is provided with holes 5 forthe discharge of the cooling agent and a shield 6 for preventing contactwith the electromagnetic field of an inductor 7 and directing thecooling agent onto the ingot 3.

The inductor 7 is immersed in the cooling agent contained in the space 2of the collector 1 and creates the electromagnetic field which turns thecolumn of molten metal on the tray 4 into the ingot 3.

The inductor 7 can be located close to the wall of the collector 1 atthe side of the ingot 3 or near the vertical partition 8 extending alongthe space 2 of the collector 1 and intended to suppress the turbulentstreams of the cooling agent. In the latter case the space 2 of thecollector 1 can accommodate a shield 6 installed above the inductor 7.

The collector l and its cover 9 are made of a dielectric material, e.g.,textolite or fibreglass which ensure reliable electrical insulation ofthe inductor 7. The collector 1 is installed on the base support 10.

Determination of the position of the inductor 7 in the space 2 of thecollector 1 depends on the position and the number of holes 5 for thedischarge of the cooling agent.

The plant operates as follows.

The cooling agent is supplied from some source into the collector l at acontrolled pressure and rate. The tray 4 is moved into position withrespect to the shield 6 so as to direct the flow of the cooling agentonto the side surface of said tray and ingot. The electromagnetic fieldof the inductor 7 is insulated by the shield 6.

Then molten metal is poured on the tray 4 where it is formed into aningot 3 by the electromagnetic field built up by the inductor 7. Thecross section of the ingot 3 can be varied by selecting the requiredshape of the inductor 7.

As the metal reaches a certain level on the tray 4, the latter is moveddown relative to the shield 6 thus building up the ingot 3 continuouslywith the molten metal.

The cooling agent flows from the holes 5 of the collector 1 directlyonto the side surface of the ingot or drips down from the outer surfaceof the shield 6 thus contributing to the solidification of the ingot 3.

As the ingot 3 grows, the tray 4 is lowered until the required length ofthe ingot is obtained. Meanwhile, the cooling agent (water) in the space2 of the collector 1 cools down the inductor 7 and is discharged forcooling the ingot. As a result, there is no need for a separate supplyof the cooling agent to the inductor 7 and the latter need not beinsulated.

The process of casting can be accompanied by adjustments of the pressureand rate of flow of the cooling agent, voltage across the inductor 7,vertical speed of the tray 4, and metal level relative to the inductor7.

To terminate the process of metal casting, the supply of metal and themovement of the ingot are discontinued, and the ingot is brought to thecrystallization stage, then the inductor 7 is turned off and thedelivery of the cooling agent is stopped,

Tests have proven the reliable functioning of the plant and its completeelectrical safety.

What is claimed is:

1. An ingot-producing plant comprising: a tray on which the molten metalis poured to be formed into an ingot; a collector which serves as thebody of said plant, surrounding the ingot laterally and having a spacefor the cooling agent and holes for the discharge of said cooling agent,said holes being located on the ingotfacing side ,a vertical partitionlocated within the space for the cooling agent and surrounding the ingotlaterally for suppressing turbulent streams of coolant; an inductorlocated in the space of said collector on the ingot side of saidpartition and surrounding the ingot laterally, the inductor beingimmersed into the cooling agent and intended to build up anelectromagnetic field which forms molten metal into an ingot; and ashield secured to said collector at the side of the ingot, the traybeing positioned below the level of the holes in the collector fordischarge of cooling agent, so that the cooling agent is discharged ontothe side surfaces of the tray and the ingot as it is formed.

2. The plant of claim 1 wherein said inductor is located contiguous tothe ingot-facing wall of said collector.

3. The plant of claim 1 wherein said inductor is located contiguous tothe vertical partition extending along the collector space and intendedto suppress the turbulent streams of the cooling agent.

4. The plant of claim 3 wherein the shield is located in the collectorspace above the inductor.

1. An ingot-producing plant comprising: a tray on which the molten metalis poured to be formed into an ingot; a collector whiCh serves as thebody of said plant, surrounding the ingot laterally and having a spacefor the cooling agent and holes for the discharge of said cooling agent,said holes being located on the ingot-facing side ,a vertical partitionlocated within the space for the cooling agent and surrounding the ingotlaterally for suppressing turbulent streams of coolant; an inductorlocated in the space of said collector on the ingot side of saidpartition and surrounding the ingot laterally, the inductor beingimmersed into the cooling agent and intended to build up anelectromagnetic field which forms molten metal into an ingot; and ashield secured to said collector at the side of the ingot, the traybeing positioned below the level of the holes in the collector fordischarge of cooling agent, so that the cooling agent is discharged ontothe side surfaces of the tray and the ingot as it is formed.
 2. Theplant of claim 1 wherein said inductor is located contiguous to theingot-facing wall of said collector.
 3. The plant of claim 1 whereinsaid inductor is located contiguous to the vertical partition extendingalong the collector space and intended to suppress the turbulent streamsof the cooling agent.
 4. The plant of claim 3 wherein the shield islocated in the collector space above the inductor.